Danny Buderus

The Knights graded this Taree junior, Trent Barrett’s halfback partner with the Australian Schoolboys in 1995, as a halfback/centre in 1996. Newcastle coach Mal Reilly suggested the positional change – resulting in the Newcastle hooker becoming the wildcard selection in the Australian Test team in 2001. Buderus had a great game for Country Origin and despite being overlooked by State selectors in favour of Luke Priddis and Craig Gower, he was chosen to make his Test debut against NZ in July. Buderus capped a tremendous season with a sterling performance in Newcastle’s grand final win over P’matta and selection in Australia’s Kangaroo squad. Although Newcastle players were rested from the one-off Test against Papua New Guinea in October, Buderus appeared in all three Test matches on the shorted Kangaroo Tour following the injury to Penrith’s Craig Gower and the decision not to send a back-up hooker. Buderus’ rep career never skipped a beat in 2003, despite Newcastle’s indifferent form, and following team-mate Andrew Johns’ continued absence through injury, the hard-working hooker took over as Knights captain. In 2004 Buderus represented Australia in the ANZac Test before leading NSW to victory in the State of Origin series. At the end of the season he was a worthy winner of the ‘Dally M’ Player of the Year medal, but higher honours were still to come. Chosen in the Australian team for the Tri Nations competition in England, Buderus captained Australia in two Tests against Great Britain during the competition - thus becoming the Knights’ third Test captain after Paul Harragon and Andrew Johns. Buderus captained NSW to Origin success in 2005 but after the Knights struggled through an injury-ravaged season and finished with the wooden spoon the veteran hooker led Australia against Great Britain (20-6 winners in Wigan) and into the 24-0 loss to NZ in the Tri-Nations final. In 2006 Buderus missed the one-off Test against NZ through injury, and following NSW’s State of Origin loss, stood down from Test duty while he awaited the birth of his child.